Long-Term Monitoring of Health Inequalities: First Report on headline Indicators

Healthy Life Expectancy ( HLE) - at birth

Between 1999/00 and 2005/06, HLE has increased by 2.4 years (4%) for males and 1.5 years (2%) for females.
In 2005/06, HLE at Scotland level for males was 67.4 years (7.3 years less than total life expectancy) and HLE for females was 69.6 years (10.0 years less than total life expectancy).
In 2005/6, HLE of those living in the most deprived decile was 19.8 years lower for males and 18.2 years lower for females than HLE of those living in the least deprived decile.
Between 1999/00 and 2005/06, inequalities in HLE have been stable in both absolute and relative terms.

Premature Mortality - from all causes, aged under 75 years

Between 1997 and 2006, deaths amongst those aged under 75 years have decreased by 18%.
Despite these decreases, around 22,000 people aged under 75 still die each year.
In 2006, under 75 deaths amongst those living in the most deprived decile were 3.6 times more likely than those living in the least deprived decile.
Whilst inequalities have been stable in absolute terms between 1997 and 2006, improvements observed in deprived areas have not been as great as those observed elsewhere in Scotland resulting in a widening of inequalities in relative terms.

Mental Wellbeing - adults aged 16 years and over

The data required for the calculation of the recommended inequalities measures are not yet available.
Some data from the Well? 2006 survey are however available and show that those with low household income or who feel that it is difficult to manage on their household income have notably lower mental wellbeing scores than those with higher household income or who feel that it is easy to manage on their household income.

Low birthweight

Between 1998 and 2005, the percentage of low birthweight babies has been relatively stable.
Around 3,000 low birthweight babies are born each year (around 6% of total live, full term, singleton births in Scotland).
In 2005, full term, singleton babies in the most deprived decile were 2.4 times more likely to have a low birthweight than those in the least deprived decile.
Between 1998 and 2005, inequalities have widened slightly in absolute terms, but have been stable in relative terms.

Coronary Heart Disease - first ever hospital admission for heart attack aged under 75 years

Between 1997 and 2006, rates of first hospital admission for heart attack amongst those aged under 75 years fell by 45% in Scotland as a whole.
Despite these decreases, around 1,600 new cases are still admitted to hospital for heart attack each year.
In 2006, adults aged under 75 years in the most deprived decile were 1.3 times more likely to be admitted to hospital for heart attack than those in the least deprived decile.
Between 1997 and 2006, inequalities have narrowed in absolute terms and also in relative terms.

Coronary Heart Disease ( CHD) - deaths aged 45-74 years

Between 1997 and 2006, there has been a considerable decrease in CHD mortality amongst the population aged 45-74 years as a whole - rates fell by 45%.
However, CHD remains one of Scotland's biggest causes of premature mortality, with around 3,500 deaths occurring in this age group each year.
In 2006, adults in the most deprived decile were 3.8 times more likely to die from CHD aged 45-74 years than those in the least deprived decile.
Whilst inequalities have narrowed in absolute terms between 1997 and 2006, improvements observed in deprived areas have not been as great as those observed elsewhere in Scotland resulting in a widening of inequalities in relative terms.

Cancer - incidence rate aged under 75 years

Between 1996 and 2005, there has been a 8% decrease in rates of new cases of cancer amongst those aged under 75 years as a whole.
Despite these decreases, around 18,000 new cases of cancer are still diagnosed each year.
In 2006, adults aged under 75 years in the most deprived decile were 1.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than those in the least deprived decile.
Between 1996 and 2005, inequalities have been stable in absolute terms and also in relative terms.

Cancer - deaths aged 45-74 years

Between 1997 and 2006, there has been a 14% decrease in rates of death from cancer amongst those aged 45-74 years as a whole.
Despite these decreases, around 7,500 people aged 45-74 years still die from cancer each year.
In 2006, adults aged 45-74 years in the most deprived decile were 2.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than those in the least deprived decile.
Whilst inequalities have been relatively stable in absolute terms between 1997 and 2006, improvements observed in deprived areas have not been as great as those observed elsewhere in Scotland resulting in a widening of inequalities in relative terms.

Alcohol - first ever hospital admission aged under 75 years

Between 1997 and 2006, there has been a 17% increase in rates of new hospital admissions for alcohol related conditions amongst those aged under 75 years as a whole.
Numbers have risen such that around 16,000 new cases aged under 75 years are now being admitted to hospital for alcohol related conditions each year.
In 2006, adults aged under 75 years in the most deprived decile were 6.3 times more likely to be admitted to hospital (as a new case) with an alcohol related condition than those in the least deprived decile.
Between 1997 and 2006, inequalities have been stable in absolute terms and also in relative terms.

Alcohol - deaths aged 45-74 years

Between 1998 and 2006, there has been a 75% increase in rates of death from alcohol related conditions amongst those aged under 45-74 years as a whole.
Numbers have risen such that around 2,500 people aged 45-74 years are now dying from alcohol related conditions each year.
In 2006, adults aged 45-74 years in the most deprived decile were 12.3 times more likely to die from an alcohol related condition than those in the least deprived decile.
Between 1998 and 2006, inequalities have increased in both absolute and relative terms.

All-cause mortality aged 15-44 years

Between 1997 and 2006, rates of death have been stable amongst those aged under 15-44 years as a whole, but within this there has been variation for specific causes of death.
In 2006, adults aged 15-44 years in the most deprived decile were 4.9 times more likely to die than those in the least deprived decile.
Between 1997 and 2006, inequalities have increased in both absolute and relative terms.

The Scottish Government